Wei Tingzhen’s heart sank when she learned that Chen Qushui and Hong Gu had visited Jing’an Temple Alley, Cat Alley, and Locust Tree Alley all in one day.

“So you’re saying Chen Qushui and Hong Gu are still staying at the shop?” she asked Nanny Jin. “And when they visited Jing’an Temple Alley, Lord Dou didn’t even invite them to stay for lunch?”

“Yes,” Nanny Jin nodded. “Moreover, they didn’t even get to see the Seventh Madam.”

“How can this be?” Wei Tingzhen’s brows furrowed tightly.

Nanny Jin, who had once been harshly rebuked by Dou Zhao, felt a hint of schadenfreude and naturally hoped for Dou Zhao’s misfortune. Her eyes shifted slightly as she lowered her voice to Wei Tingzhen, “However when they left Lord Dou’s house, they were given a few boxes of pastries as if they were beggars being shooed away.”

Wei Tingzhen’s expression darkened further.

After some thought, she went to the Marquis of Jining’s mansion.

Lady Tian listened in disbelief, clearly not expecting Dou Zhao’s situation in the Dou family to be so difficult. After a while, she stammered, “What can we do? It’s just one more pair of chopsticks at the table. We’ll treat her as if I’ve raised another daughter.”

Wei Tingzhen, unsatisfied, said, “Mother, have you considered this? It’s understandable for Wang Shi, as a stepmother, to dislike her predecessor’s daughter. But look, for her dowry, that accountant has been begging from one family to another, and everyone seems to be brushing it off. This goes beyond simply not being favored by a stepmother. Perhaps there’s something wrong with Dou Zhao’s character!”

“Our Tingyu is handsome and virtuous. Father and you hired tutors to educate him at home from a young age, teaching him principles of conduct. As he grew older, fearing he might mix with those good-for-nothing young nobles, you hired instructors to teach him riding and archery… Who knows how much effort we’ve put in!”

“Among the noble families in Beijing, how many are like our Tingyu? Which young lady from a prestigious family wouldn’t be suitable for him? Why should he suffer such indignity? We’ve raised him with utmost care!”

Lady Tian began to cry as she listened, “Then what do you suggest we do? Surely we can’t break off the engagement? If there’s anyone to blame, blame me! If I hadn’t meddled and gone to visit Lady Zhao, this marriage wouldn’t have happened… I originally thought that since the Western Dou family had few descendants and Dou Zhao was the eldest legitimate daughter, Dou Wanyuan wouldn’t neglect her. Who knew it would turn out like this?!”

Wei Tingzhen’s mind stirred at these words.

She sat beside her mother, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to her, speaking softly, “Mother, why don’t we break off this engagement?”

Lady Tian was thunderstruck and waved her hands repeatedly, “No, no! Tingyu observed the mourning period, and Dou Zhao waited for him for three years. Besides, we snatched this marriage from the He family’s hands. To break it off without reason… it’s unacceptable! Moreover, Dou Zhao hasn’t done anything wrong…”

“Mother, listen to me,” Wei Tingzhen firmly grasped her mother’s hand, causing Lady Tian to calm down slightly and listen to her daughter. “In this world, things are what people make of them. Look at the heir of Duke Ying’s household, Song Mo. He killed so many people, and everyone knows what happened in their family. Yet when father and son go out, they still act affectionately. If anyone asks about Song Mo’s killings, the Song family insists those guards were thieves. Even when the Emperor inquires, they don’t reveal a thing, managing to muddle through the whole affair.”

“Tingyu will complete his mourning period in two or three months. Isn’t he doing business with Gu Yu and Song Mo? When the time comes, we can tell the Dou family he’s busy with this and postpone the wedding date. Dou Zhao is so unfavored at home, that surely someone dislikes her marrying above her station. Others might not say it, but that Wang shi…” She raised an eyebrow, “We just need to find a way to talk to Wang Shi. I’ll promise to be her friend, and Wang Shi, having risen from a concubine, how could she not be tempted?! Then we can let Wang Shi find some fault with Dou Zhao. Mother, if we set our minds to it, how can we not succeed?”

“But wouldn’t this harm Dou Zhao?” Lady Tian struggled. “She’s already unfavored at home. If the engagement is broken, what future would she have…”

“Mother, you’re mistaken!” Wei Tingzhen said gently. “Dou Zhao’s fifth uncle is a cabinet minister. How many scholarly families wouldn’t want to marry into the Dou family? If not the sons of noble families, wouldn’t those from humble backgrounds do? Perhaps after breaking off the engagement with us, she might find a more suitable match and live a better life!”

Lady Tian still felt somewhat reluctant.

Wei Tingzhen grew angry, “Mother, why did I marry into the Zhang family? If you let my brother marry that Dou Zhao, what does that make me?!” As she spoke, remembering the hardships she’d endured in the Zhang family these past few years, she began to sob. “Our family originally had no fortune. Brother gains Song Mo’s support and is about to become wealthy. Which young lady from a prestigious family couldn’t we seek for him? I’m already in this situation, if my brother doesn’t have a good marriage, what’s the point of my life? What hope is there for the future?!” With that, she covered her face and cried silently.

Lady Tian, touched by her words, embraced Wei Tingzhen and began to cry as well.

For a moment, Lady Tian’s inner chamber nearly became a watery landscape.

When Wang Yingxue received Wei Tingzhen’s calling card, she was quite surprised and said to Nanny Hu, “Doesn’t she know that Gao Sheng’s wife is managing the Dou household?” As she spoke, a mocking expression appeared on her face.

Nanny Hu handed a washed plum to Wang Yingxue and smiled, “The Fourth Miss is about to be married. In front of the in-laws, they can’t say you’re not in charge of affairs now, can they?”

Wang Yingxue sneered, tossing the card onto the kang, “Now they want me to save face for them. Where were they before?!” She turned and coldly told the maid who came to report, “Don’t see her.”

However, Nanny Hu gave the maid a meaningful look, then advised Wang Yingxue, “The Fourth Miss will surely marry from Jing’an Temple Alley. The Fifth Madam and Sixth Madam will come to help then. It’s your opportunity. Why hold a grudge against the Fourth Miss? The Fifth Miss is thirteen this year, of marriageable age…”

If the Dou family members intended to suppress her and let these matters leak out, which respectable family would marry Dou Ming?

Wang Yingxue’s eyes reddened, tears falling, “Dou Shiying’s heart is too cruel! Dou Zhao is his daughter, but isn’t Ming’er his flesh and blood? If I hadn’t fallen for his trick back then, how could I have ended up like this!” She then complained about her sister-in-law from her natal family, Madam Gao, “When father fell on hard times, I treated her so well. Nan’er was so ill he was barely breathing, if not for me, he would have died young. Now that she’s living well, and her brother has become a frontier official, she turns her back on us. I just wanted her to help find a good match for Ming’er among the Gao family’s nephews, but she made all sorts of excuses, as if afraid I’d cling to Nan’er. She hurriedly arranged for Nan’er to marry her niece, Gao Mingzhu…”

Nanny Hu remained silent.

Since Wang Yingxue had been stripped of her authority as the mistress of the household, the Wang family had gradually distanced themselves from her. She would repeat these words every few days.

If not complaining about Madam Gao, she would criticize Madam Pang, or talk about how she was tricked by Dou Shiying into becoming a concubine…

Where was the efficiency and decisiveness she had shown when running the cotton business… She was now like a typical resentful woman confined to the inner chambers…

Thinking of this, Nanny Hu was startled.

She couldn’t help but examine Wang Yingxue carefully.

A sallow complexion, a dejected expression, incessant complaints… Whether anyone was listening or not, Wang Yingxue kept talking to herself.

Nanny Hu was on the verge of tears and involuntarily interrupted Wang Yingxue’s words, “Seventh Madam, you’re a clever person. You managed to turn things around in such difficult times before, you’ll surely overcome this obstacle too!”

Wang Yingxue was startled by these words, her lifeless eyes gradually brightening. Her lips moved, about to say something when a young maid rushed in, “Seventh Madam, the Seventh Master is here!”

“Ah!” She exchanged a glance with Nanny Hu.

Dou Shiying had already strode in.

“I heard the young mistress from the Marquis of Jining’s mansion is coming to visit you,” he said, wearing his court robes and looking hurried, clearly having rushed back from the government office upon receiving the news. “She is Shou Gu’s aunt. I’ve already instructed Gao Sheng to receive her well. You should also be in good spirits and make sure she feels at home!”

Wang Yingxue looked at Dou Shiying, who even to this day maintained a gentle and humble demeanor towards her, feeling a mix of emotions.

Once, she thought this was Dou Shiying’s unique tenderness and consideration for her; now, she realized it was just his usual way of dealing with everyone.

He treated everyone this way.

It was like being stabbed with a soft knife, thinking it wouldn’t hurt, yet it tormented you to the point of wishing for a quick end.

Wang Yingxue wanted to pick up the teacup beside her and throw the full cup of tea in Dou Shiying’s face, but thinking of Dou Ming and her marriage prospects, her hand tightened into a fist, only to slowly relax again.

“I understand,” she heard herself answering Dou Shiying in a submissive tone. “I certainly won’t embarrass the Fourth Miss.”

Dou Shiying nodded with satisfaction and left. Shortly after, he had Gao Sheng’s wife bring over a box.

Wang Yingxue opened the box.

The dazzling jewels lit up the entire room.

“The Seventh Master said that since the madam is receiving guests, he had my husband rush to Yubao Pavilion to buy these jewels,” Gao Sheng’s wife said, her face as round as the full moon, smiling with a touch of festivity. Both she and her husband were clever people. Although they managed all affairs in Jing’an Temple Alley, they remained as respectful to Wang Yingxue as before, giving her no cause for complaint.

She smiled, curtsied, and withdrew.

Wang Yingxue slammed the box shut with a “bang.”

“What is this supposed to be? A reward for helping Dou Zhao save face?”

Her face turned ashen with anger.

Nanny Hu sighed silently in her heart.

In the Yizhi Hall study of Duke Ying’s mansion, Song Mo, who was talking with Yan Chaoqin and Liao Bifeng, received a note handed in by Chen He. His expression changed slightly as he asked, “When did Chen Qushui arrive in Beijing? What is he doing here?”

Chen He, with his eyes lowered respectfully, replied, “I heard he came for the Fourth Miss’s wedding matters — the Fourth Miss’s stationery shop needs to be inventoried, they need to discuss with the Seventh Master about where she will marry from, and they also need to inform the Fifth Master and Sixth Master… It seems they’re quite busy.”

With Liao Bifeng present, he instinctively omitted Dou Zhao’s surname.